While the trucks were prototypes made from a mix of 2015 and 2017 Raptor components, Ford says the testing proved that the new off-road-ready truck will be able to handle hard use. Ford used a 66-mile desert route that's designed to mimic the varying terrain of the Baja racing course in Mexico. Over that distance, the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor prototypes averaged an impressive 50 mph, hitting as much as 100 mph in wide-open stretches and crawling at as little as 10 mph when the going got tougher. Ford claims its test is "far exceeding" what the average Raptor owner would do to their trucks, to which we suspect many future owners will reply, "challenge accepted."

2017 ford f 150 raptor prototype sand dunes

The 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor, introduced in January at the Detroit auto show, has aluminum bodywork to help it shed weight compared to the last Raptor. And instead of that truck's V-8 engine, the 2017 model has a 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V-6 engine and a new 10-speed automatic transmission. While Ford hasn't specified an output rating, reports suggest the new Raptor will produce 450 hp -- up from 411 hp in the outgoing truck.

The 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor enters production in fall 2016. Expect more details on the new truck over the coming month.